Sun bath

ABSTRACT

A sun bathing platform comprises a base member on which a body support member is mounted to be rotatable about a vertical axis and to be movable to varying angles of inclination to the horizontal, the body support member being provided with a receiving surface for receiving the suns rays and an apertured member spaced from the receiving surface for restricting the passage of the suns rays and the receiving surface having means for indicating when a body support surface of the body support member is normal to the suns rays.

United States Patent Osborne 1 1 Sept. 30, 1975 [54] SUN BATH [76] Inventor: Ravmond Osborne, 50 Lake Dr., E'mmi'wr Lawrence Twpp Ha'msworthy Poole Dorsct Attorney, Agent, or FirmStevens, Davis, Miller & England Mosher [22] Filed: Nov. 14, 1974 211 Appl. No.: 523,752 1 ABSTRACT A sun bathing platform comprises a base member on [52] US. Cl 128/372; 128/376 which a body su on member is mounted to be rotat- [51 Int. Cl. A6111 33/06 able about a vertical axis and to be movable to var in y g [58] Field of Search 128/362, 372, 376, 377, an les of inclination to the horizontal, the bod su g Y P 128/395; 135/1 R. 14 R port member being provided with a receiving surface for receiving the suns rays and an apertured member [56] References Cited s aced from the receivin surface for restrictin the P g g UNITED STATES PATENTS passage of the suns rays and the receiving surface hav- 768 W191) H'mlcy 118/27, UX ing means for indicating when a body support surface E g I (3/1928 i 5 5 5 UX of the body support member is normal to the suns 2,834,351 5/1958 Garson... 128/377 3,483,871 12/1969 Wilson 128/372 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 9 Clams 4 Drawmg Fgures 790,170 9/1935 France 128/372 SUN BATH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to sun baths and in particular to platforms therefor.

Numerous people consider it psychologically beneficial, if not physically advantageous, to sunbathe and obtain a tan (especially a body tan). In this country for example, the acquisition of a body tan usually takes longer than in say equatorial climes. Such a time penalty is considered undesirable (particularly by persons on fixed duration holidays) and it is an object of the present invention to enable a faster tan to be obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, there is provided a sun bathing platform comprising a base member, a body support member rotatably mounted on the base mem' ber so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis and movable to varying angles of inclination to the horizontal; a body support surface on said body support member; a receiving surface on the body support member for receiving the suns rays and a surface spaced from the re ceiving surface having an aperture for restricting passage of suns rays to the receiving surface, wherein the receiving surface is marked or otherwise delimited whereby rays of the sun passing through the aperture give an indication when the body support surface is in a plane normal to the direction of rays from the sun.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS By way of example, embodiments of the present invention will now be described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. I is a perspective sketch of a first platform according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sketch of an indicator therefor;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a second platform according to this invention, and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an array of radiation-sensitive cells therefor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. II a rigid, heavy base has a pole I1 upstanding vertically therefrom. A U-shaped structure 12 with cross-piece 13 and limbs 14 is pivotally mounted to the upper end of the pole 11 by its crosspiece 13. A rectangular platform 15 is pivotally mounted at the ends of the two limbs 14 which serve as trunnions for the platform. A foot rest 16 is provided across the lower end of platform 15 at right angles thereto. An indicator unit 17 is rigidly attached to the platform llS adjacent its upper end at one side edge.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the indicator unit 17 comprises two co-axial plates or discs l8, l9 spaced parallel to one another and to the upper surface of the platform 15. The upper disc 18 is centrally provided with a circular aperture and the lower disc 19 is marked centrally with concentric rings or bands 21. The direction of the suns rays is shown in FIG. 2 as a beam of radiation 22. It will be apparent that if the platform 15 is po sitioned with its upper generally planar surface normal to the beam 22, the visible radiation passing through circular aperture 20 will be seen on the innermost region 21. As the earth moves relative to the sun, the

beam 22 will move off-centre on lower disc 19 in a direction which is the compound oftwo mutually perpen' dicular motions. These two motions are the relative arcuate travel of the sun and earth, and the varying altitude of the sun. Thus for the twelve hour period between say 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. in August in England. a sun bath taken with radiation incidence directed normally to the platform 15, i.e. generally normal to the human body or bodies lying on its upper surface, will require that the platform be rotated about the vertical axis of pole 11 through an angle corresponding approximately to the earths rotation, i.e. through 180 and have its inclination from the vertical varied continually from about 20 in the morning to about at mid-day and back to about 20 in the evening. The accuracy of this can be checked by ensuring that the beam 22 is always incident on the lower disc 19 centrally of its innermost region 21.

Whilst lying in a prone position the occupant (or one of several occupants) of the platform 15 can alter its attitude with respect to earth (to ensure the normal incidence thereon of the suns radiation) by a system of one or more cords and pulleys (not shown). Alternatively or additionally one or more locking mechanisms (also not shown) may be provided to render the platform immovable after it is set to a particular one of several discrete attitude-settings which are made at intervals throughout the day.

If desired, the indicator unit 17 could be modified by placing a radiation-sensitive cell at the centre of the lower disc 19, and placing this cell in circuit with a relay, battery and buzzer. The circuit would be so arranged as to give an audible signal as to when the platform 15 should be reorientated.

The platform may have its attitude changed automatically by, for example, the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4. In this, a piston-cylinder ram device 25 is pivotally mounted between the pole 11 and the underside of platform 15. The ram device is hydraulically or pneumatically operable upon appropriate energisation of a I reversible electric motor. The indicator unit (here referenced 27) comprises two coaxial discs 28, 29 spaced apart parallel to one another and to the upper surface of platform 15. The two discs are shown separated in FIG. 4. The upper disc 28 is provided centrally with a circular aperture 30, and the lower disc 29 is provided with an array of photocells 31 that are connected through an electric circuit to the electric motor. If the sun's radiation passing through aperture 30 impinges on the central photocell 31 marked G", then the electric motor receives no output signal from the electric circuit and the platform 15 remains in the position obtaining at that time. If the sun's radiation passing through aperture 30 impinges on a photocell references U (up) or on a photocell references D (down), then the reversible electric motor receives an appropriate output signal from the electric circuit and causes the piston-cylinder ram device 25 to move the platform 15 up or down respectively. Another reversible motor is responsive to signals from the photocells references L" (left) and R (right) to rotate the structure 12 about the vertical pole 11. If the beam 22 impinges on an L-referenced photocell 31, the structure 12 and the platform 15 supported thereby rotate anti-clockwise (when viewed from above). If the beam 22 impinges on an R-referenced photocell 31, the structure 12 and the platform 15 supported thereby rotate clockwise (when viewed from above). The U-shaped structure 12 is preferably counter-balanced as at 26.

The electric circuit may incorporate a time delay giving an elapsed time period of say 20 minutes between reception of a sensing signal change from the photocell array 31 and the transmission of an output signal to one or both electric motors. This will allow for the sun-light being obscured e.g. by passers-by and/or by clouds. Clearly the array will need to be large enough to still pick-up the suns rays after said time period has elapsed.

Furthermore, a settable time switch, preferably mounted with the indicator unit may be connected in circuit with a buzzer to provide an audible warning that the pre-set time of exposure to the suns rays has passed.

The platform 15 may have side and end screens fitted for nude sunbathing.

What is claimed is:

l. A sunbathing platform comprising a base member; a body support member rotatably mounted on the base member so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis and movable to varying angles of inclination to the horizontal; a body support surface on said body support member; a receiving surface on the body support member for receiving the suns rays and a surface spaced from the receiving surface having an aperture for restricting passage of suns rays to the receiving surface, wherein the receiving surface is marked or otherwise delimited whereby rays of the sun passing through the aperture give an indication when the body support surface is in a plane normal to the direction of rays from the sun.

2. A sunbathing platform according to claim 1, including identifying markings on said receiving surface whereby on receipt of rays from the sun via said aperture, a visible indication of direction relative to the sun is provided.

3. A sunbathing platform according to claim 2,

wherein said aperture is circular and said receiving sur face is marked with one or more annular bands concentric with said circular aperture.

4. A sunbathing platform according to claim 1, including at least one radiation sensitive detector mounted on the receiving surface and an audio signal emitter connected in circuit with the radiation sensitive detector(s).

5. A sunbathing platform according to claim 4, including a time delay device coupled between said radiation sensitive detector and said audio signal emitter, whereby an elapse time period between response of said radiation sensitive detector and operation of said audio signal emitter is effected.

6. A sunbathing platform according to claim 1, including at least one radiation sensitive detector mounted on the receiving surface, and a control mechanism operatively coupled with said body support member and connected in circuit with said radiation sensitive detector whereby control of the inclination and angular movement of said support member is automatically controlled in dependence of the position of the support member relative to the sun.

7. A sunbathing platform according to claim 5, including a time delay device coupled between said radiation sensitive detector and said control mechanism, whereby an elapse time period between response of said radiation sensitive detector and operation of said control mechanism is effected.

8. A sunbathing platform according to claim 4, including a settable time switch mounted thereon and adapted for indicating a preset time of exposure to the suns rays.

9. A sunbathing platform according to claim 5, including a settable time switch mounted thereon and adapted for indicating a preset time of exposure to the suns rays. 

1. A sunbathing platform comprising a base member; a body support member rotatably mounted on the base member so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis and movable to varying angles of inclination to the horizontal; a body support surface on said body support member; a receiving surface on the body support member for receiving the suns rays and a surface spaced from the receiving surface having an aperture for restricting passage of suns rays to the receiving surface, wherein the receiving surface is marked or otherwise delimited whereby rays of the sun passing through the aperture give an indication when the body support surface is in a plane normal to the direction of rays from the sun.
 2. A sunbathing platform according to claim 1, including identifying markings on said receiving surface whereby on receipt of rays from the sun via said aperture, a visible indication of direction relative to the sun is provided.
 3. A sunbathing platform according to claim 2, wherein said aperture is circular and said receiving surface is marked with one or more annular bands concentric with said circular aperture.
 4. A sunbathing platform according to claim 1, including at least one radiation sensitive detector mounted on the receiving surface and an audio signal emitter connected in circuit with the radiation sensitive detector(s).
 5. A sunbathing platform according to claim 4, including a time delay device coupled between said radiation sensitive detector and said audio signal emitter, whereby an elapse time period between response of said radiation sensitive detector and operation of said audio signal emitter is effected.
 6. A sunbathing platform according to claim 1, including at least one radiation sensitive detector mounted on the receiving surface, and a control mechanism operatively coupled with said body support member and connected in circuit with said radiation sensitive detector whereby control of the inclination and angular movement of said support member is automatically controlled in dependence of the position of the support member relative to the sun.
 7. A sunbathing platform according to claim 5, including a time delay device coupled between said radiation sensitive detector and said control mechanism, whereby an elapse time period between response of said radiation sensitive detector and operation of said control mechanism is effected.
 8. A sunbathing platform according to claim 4, including a settable time switch mounted thereon and adapted for indicating a preset time of exposure to the suns rays.
 9. A sunbathing platform according to claim 5, including a settable time switch mounted thereon and adapted for indicating a preset time of exposure to the suns rays. 